John Simons, a commercial fisherman known to friends as Johnny Angel, died on May 15 in Virginia Beach. The cause was emphysema and lung cancer. He was 69.
Mr. Simons, who lived in Montauk until 2010, had worked aboard the commercial fishing vessels Restless and Seacapture, among others, and had been a mate on charter boats including Adios and Vivienne. Outside of work he was a fluke fisherman.
He was “goofy and silly,” his family said, and enjoyed a good prank.
After leaving Montauk, he lived for five years in Queens, then eight in Babylon, before moving to Virginia Beach last year.
Family and friends will celebrate his life with a farewell fishing trip open to all on the Ebb Tide out of Montauk on Monday at 7 a.m.
Mr. Simons was born in Massapequa on June 3, 1954, to Wilbur Simons and the former Juanita Smith.
He is survived by two daughters, Loralyn Nicole Simons and Tanya Simons of Virginia Beach, a brother, Edward Simons of Blythewood, S.C., and his former wife, Donna Simons, also of Virginia Beach.
His siblings Thomas Simons, Scott Simons, and Veronica Simons Sokolovic Pierce died before him.
